-*   JAN  17  18C 
A    NARRATIVE   V^S. 


LATE  REVIVALS    OF    RELIGION, 


WITHIN  THE  BOUNDS  OF 


GENEVA    PRESBYTERY. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  PRESBYTERY. 


GENEVA: 


Printed  by  J.  C.  Merrell  &  Co.  Seneca-Stk 
183-2 


At  a  stated  meeting  of  Geneva  Presbytery,  held  at  Geneva,  February 
7th,  1*32,  it  was 

Voted,  That  Rev.  Messrs.  Eliakim  Phelps,  Henry  P.  STRONG,  and 

Air bel  P.  Eddy,  be  a  committee  to  prepare  a  narrative  of  the  late  revivals 

within  our  bounds,  and  report  the  same  to  the  Presbytery  during  its  present 

session. 

February  10///,  1832. 

The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  narrative  of  the  late  revivals  within 

our  bounds,  made  their  report,  which  was  adopted. 

On  motion,  Resolved  unanimously,  That  the  narrative  be  re-committed  to 

the  same  committee,  to  be  revised  and  published  ;  and  that  Rev.  Messrs.  A.  G. 

Orton,  C.  Eddy,  M.  Barton,  Thos.  Loundsbury,  J.  F.  Br.iss,  and  S. 

M.  Whelpley,  be  added  to  the  committee. 

C.  EDDY,  Clerk. 

Extract  from  the  minutes.  A.  D.  EDDY,  Stated  Clerk. 


The  following  narrative  is  compiled  from  the  written  statements  prepared  by 
the  pastors  or  elders  of  the  several  churches,  and  submitted,  according  to  a 
standing  rule  of  the  Presbytery,  at  the  stated  meeting  in  February.  From 
.some  of  the  churches,  the  statements  are  not  as  full  as  could  be  desired.  For 
the  facts,  the  committee  are  indebted  wholly  to  the  written  documents  which 
have  been  put  into  their  hands.  For  the  correctness  of  the  statements  given, 
the  pastors  and  elders,  who  have  furnished  them,  are  responsible. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://archive.org/details/narlaterOOpres 


NARRATIVE 


The  year  past  has  been  to  the  churches  within  our  bounds, 
emphatically  a  year  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most  High.  In  no 
year,  since  the  settlement  of  our  country,  have  we  witnessed  so 
many  and  such  signal  triumphs  of  the  Redeemer's  cause  ;  or 
recorded  so  large  an  accession  to  the  number  of  his  professed 
followers,  as  the  vear  which  we  are  now  to  review.  All  our 
churches  which  have  enjoyed  the  stated  means  of  grace,  have 
been  visited  with  revivals  during  the  past  year. 

The  first  special  indication  of  a  work  of  grace,  appeared  in 
Geneva,  early  in  the  month  of  June,  1830;  and  the  first  subjects 
of  it  were  members  of  the  Female  Seminary.  At  the  close  of 
the  first  week  after  the  attention  became  general,  eight  or  ten 
were  rejoicing  in  hope,  and  an  unusual  seriousness  pervaded  the 
minds  of  all.  A  weekly  meeting  was  appointed  for  personal 
conversation  with  those  who  were  inquiring,  another  for  those 
who  were  indulging  a  recent  hope,  and  a  season  of  prayer  was 
observed  at  the  same  time  by  a  small  number  of  the  church. 
Others,  not  connected  with  the  Seminary,  soon  became  interested 
in  the  work,  and  though  it  was  not  powerful  nor  general,  it  con- 
tinued with  various  degrees  of  interest  through  the  summer  and 
fall — every  week  furnishing  some  new  cases  of  hopeful  conver- 
sion to  God.  Several  seasons  of  prayer  and  religious  conference 
were  observed  by  the  church,  which  were  generally  well  attend- 
ed, and  apparently  happy  in  their  results,  yet  the  members  ^lie- 
rally  did  not  take  that  deep  interest  in  the  work  which  they  ought 
to  have  felt,  and  which  might  have  been  expected.     The  revival, 


6 

however,  continued  slowly,  but  steadily,  to  advance  until  De- 
cember, when  the  number  of  hopeful  converts  amounted  to  more 
than  forty.  About  this  time,  the  church  adopted  a  resolution  to 
unite  with  the  Temperance  Society,  and  to  pursue  a  more  active 
course  of  measures  to  advance  the  Temperance  Reformation.  In 
this  they  were  so  nearly  unanimous,  that  two  only  declined  a 
formal  assent.  This  effort  in  the  cause  of  Temperance  is  regarded 
as  holding  an  Ultimate  relation  to  the  revival  in  the  subsequent 
stages  of  its  progress ;  for  the  number  of  inquirers  in  a.  short 
time  increased  from  eight  or  ten  to  one  hundred  and  twenty. 

From  the  middle  of  January  until  near  the  last  of  March,  the 
number  of  conversions  was  from  twelve  to  twenty  in  a  week ; 
but  notwithstanding  the  power  of  the  work,  no  irregularities 
were  witnessed,  no  crying  out  in  public  worship,  no  boisterous 
expressions  of  joy,  no  audible  sighing  or  groaning,  and,  indeed, 
little  else  than  the  natural  expressions  of  a  soul  deeply  impressed 
with  its  guilt,  or  calmly  reposing  by  faith  upon  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  From  the  last  of  March  until  the  first  of  May,  the  work 
was  less  powerful,  though  no  week  passed  without  witnessing 
some  new  cases  of  conversion.  It  was  about  one  year  from  the 
time  of  its  commencement  before  it  entirely  subsided.  The 
whole  number  wTho  have  expressed  a  hope  of  renewing  grace, 
is  about  two  hundred  and  seventy ;  of  these,  forty  or  fifty  were 
members  of  the  Female  Seminary,  most  of  whom,  residing  in 
other  places,  did  not  unite  with  the  church  in  Geneva.  The 
number  who  have  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church  is  more 
than  two  hundred,  making  the  whole  number  of  the  church  at 
the  present  time,  five  hundred  and  fifty-one. 

The  means  that  have  been  most  blessed  in  the  progress  of  the 
work,  have  been  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  on  the  Sabbath  and 
at  the  stated  lectures,  and  the  ordinary  performance  of  parochial 
duty ;  to  which  may  be  added,  special  meetings  for  prayer  and 
religious  intercourse.  The  course  of  weekly  labor  has  been, 
three  services  on  the  Sabbath  ;  a  meeting  for  inquiry,  and  another 
for  prayer,  on  Monday  evening ;  a  service,  addressed  more  par- 
ticularly to  the  unawakened,  on  Tuesday  evening  ;  social  prayer 


? 

meetings  in  different  sections  of  the  village,  and  lectures  in  the 
more  distant  neighborhoods,  on  Wednesday  evening;  the  Bible 
class,  followed  l>v  a  season  of  prayer,  on  Thursday  evening;  a 
meeting  for  the  instruction  of  the  young  converts,  and  another 
for  prayer, on  Friday  evening;  and  on  Saturday  evening,  a  prayer 
meeting  for  a  special  blessing  upon  the  labors  of  the  Sabbath. 
The  day  was  principally  employed  in  visiting  from  house  to 
house.  The  meeting  of  young  converts  was  one  of  peculiar 
interest.  Its  object  was  instruction  in  the  Leading  evidences 
of  christian  experience  and  the  practical  duties  of  the  christian 
life;  not  only  to  guard  young  christians  against  self-deception, 
hut  to  imbue  their  minds  with  religious  truth,  to  instruct  them 
in  doctrinal  knowledge,  and  thus  to  lay  a  broad,  and  deep,  and 
permanent  foundation  of  christian  character.  This  service  has 
uniformly  been  performed  by  a  clergyman,  and  is  still  continued. 
To  these  general  means  may  be  added  the  personal  exertions 
of  many  members  of  the  church,  and  of  the  young  converts,  ge- 
nerally in  a  way  of  individual  influence.  This  influence  was 
exerted  not  in  the  public  meeting,  but  in  the  private  interview. 
The  young  converts  did  not  become  cxhorters,  nor  arrogate  to 
themselves  the  prerogatives  of  teachers,  hut  testified  their  interest 
in  the  cause  by  their  personal  exertions  to  bring  others  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth.  A  protracted  meeting,  of  three  days 
continuance,  was  held  about  the  middle  of  April.  The  services 
were  ably  conducted  and  well  attended,  and  the  interest  for  the 
time  was  considerable;  but  so  far  as  the  conversion  of  souls  is 
concerned,  the  permanent  results,  if  any,  were  very  small.  It  is 
now  ni«>re  than  a  year  and  a  half  since  this  work  commenced, 
and  from  eight  to  ten  months  since  the  greater  portion  of  its 
fruits  were  gathered  in,  and  thus  far  the  subjects  generally  appeal 
well.  In  the  admission  of  members  to  the  church,  it  has  been  a 
general  rule  I'M-  the  pastor  and  some  of  the  elders  to  acquaint 
themselves,  bj  persona]  interview,  with  the  case  of  each  indivi- 
dual previous  to  his  examination  by  the  session.  In  all  cases 
several  weeks,  and  in  most  cases  from  two  to  three  months,  have 
elapsed,  alter  they  experienced  hope,  before  they  were  admitted 


to  the  church.  All  have  been  publicly  propounded,  and  have 
been  received  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation.  In  testimony 
of  the  increased  interest  which  lias  been  excited  in  the  cause  of 
Christ,  it  may  be  observed  that  the  appropriations  for  religious 
charity  have  been  nearly  doubled  the  last  year.  The  church 
now  sustains  one  Foreign  Missionary,  in  aid  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F. 
M.  at  an  expense  of  six  hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars ;  thirteen 
Home  Missionaries,  at  one  hundred  dollars  each ;  nine  scholar- 
ships of  the  American  Education  Society,  at  seventy-five  dollars 
each  ;  which,  in  addition  to  the  appropriations  for  the  Bible, 
Tract,  Sabbath  School,  and  other  objects  of  benevolence,  amounts 
to  more  than  forty-five  hundred  dollars  the  past  year. 

The  present  state  of  religion  is  in  some  respects  quite  interest- 
ing ;  several  conversions  have  recently  occurred,  though  there  is 
not  properly  a  revival.  The  public  services  are  well  attended  ; 
entire  harmony  of  sentiment  and  feeling  prevails  in  the  church  ; 
the  Sabbath  School  has  about  three  hundred  members,  and  the 
several  Temperance  Societies  in  the  town  more  than  eleven  hun- 
dred. Four  or  five  young  men  have  commenced  study,  with  a 
view  to  the  ministry.  The  Female  Seminary  is  flourishing,  and 
several  hopeful  conversions  have  occurred  recently  among  the 
pupils.  A  Manual  Labor  School  has  been  opened  in  Geneva, 
with  peculiarly  favorable  prospects.  It  has  now  between  sixty 
and  seventy  members ;  about  forty  of  whom  may  be  regarded  as 
the  fruits  of  the  late  revivals,  and  are  in  a  course  of  preparation 
for  the  gospel  ministry.  Most  of  the  young  men  sustain  them- 
selves at  an  expense  not  exceeding  from  fifty  to  seventy-five 
cents  per  week  ;  and  facilities  are  afforded  them  to  earn,  by  their 
own  labor,  more  than  sufficient  to  defray  this  expense.  The 
Lyceum  is  not  a  theological  nor  a  collegiate  Institution,  but 
strictly  a  preparatory  school,  designed  to  fit  y°iing  men  for  an 
advanced  standing  in  college,  or  for  the  counting-room,  or  for 
any  other  situation  in  which  a  thorough,  systematic,  and  practi- 
cal education  is  required  It  promises  results  highly  interesting 
to  the  church  of  Christ . 


CANANDAIOUA. 

Some  time  in  November,  1830,  an  unusual  seriousness  was 
observed  in  Canandaigua.  An  increased  attention  to  the  ordi- 
nary means  of  grace  was  manifest,  and  some  of  the  church  were 
encouraged  t>>  increase  their  efforts  for  a  general  revival  of  God's 
work.  Special  seasons  for  fasting,  humiliation,  prayer,  and 
religious  conference  were  observed,  with  obvious  benefit.  The 
work  did  not  become  general  till  about  the  middle  of  January. 
It  continued  with  various  degrees  of  interest  until  the  approach 
of  summer,  and  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  about  one  hundred. 

The  means  adopted  in  promoting  this  work,  were  simply  the 
public  preaching  on  the  Sabbath,  and  meetings  on  two  or  three 
evenings  in  each  week.  Family  visiting  was  not  enjoyed  to  any 
great  extent,  on  account  of  the  ill  health  of  the  pastor.  An 
inquiring  nut  ting  was  held  each  week,  and  a  meeting  of  the 
church  for  prayer  at  the  same  time.  The  converts  were,  as  far 
as  practicable,  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  grace,  taught  the 
danger  of  being  deceived,  and  allowed  sufficient  time  to  try  the 
genuineness  of  their  hopes,  before  making  a  public  profession  of 
religion  ;  and  no  one  of  those  who  have  been  admitted  to  the 
church  has  required  correction  or  censure.  All  were  examined 
not  only  respecting  the  evidence  of  their  experimental  piety  and 
their  views  of  christian  doctrine,  but  also  respecting  their  views 
of  practical  godliness;  the  various  private  and  social  duties;  the 
great  cause  of  christian  benevolence  in  all  its  departments;  and 
their  entire  abstinence  from  ardent  spirits.  Although  there  is  no 
rule  of  the  church  on  this  latter  subject,  we  are  happy  to  find 
that  in  no  case  was  there  any  desire  expressed  to  continue  the 
use  <^'  intoxicating  Liquors. 

In  the  month  of  March,  the  labors  of  the  pastor  were  entirely 
suspended  by  sickn.  ss.  Many  of  the  converts,  who  were  con- 
nected with  the  Academy  and  Seminary,  have  professed  religion 
in  the  places  to  which  they  respectively  belong.  The  whole 
number  who  have  been  added  to  the  church  in  this  place,  is  about 
seventy.     This  work,  though  not  so  extensive  as  has  been  before 


10 

enjoyed  in  this  place,  is  still  one,  in  many  respects,  of  a  very 
precious  character.  The  church  sustains  one  Missionary  in  the 
foreign  field  ;  and  the  enterprises  of  christian  benevolence  gene- 
rally receive  increased  attention.  About  two  thousand  dollars 
annually  are  appropriated  to  these  objects.  This  church  is  Con- 
gregational in  its  form  of  government,  and  is  not  connected  with 
this  Presbytery ;  but  as  it  is  embraced  in  our  territorial  limits, 
and  as  its  pastor  is  one  of  our  members,  we  are  happy  to  record 
the  dealings  of  God's  grace  with  this  sister  church. 

CASTLETON. 

Previous  to  the  revival  in  Castleton,  the  church  consisted  of 
thirty-four  members,  and  was  aided  by  the  American  Home 
Missionary  Society.  The  first  favorable  indications  appeared  in 
an  increased  spirit  of  prayer  among  a  few  female  members  of  the 
church,  at  their  weekly  prayer  meeting.  In  November,  1830, 
a  Temperance  Society  was  organized,  consisting  of  forty-two 
members.  This  number  was  soon  after  increased  to  more  than 
one  hundred.  About  this  time  an  increasing  seriousness  was 
visible  in  the  congregation,  but  nothing  very  special  appeared 
till  about  the  middle  of  December.  At  this  time,  a  few  persons 
were  known  to  be  inquiring,  and  a  meeting  for  such  as  desired 
personal  conversation  on  the  subject  of  religion,  was  appointed. 
From  this  time  the  work  became  general.  The  subjects  were 
of  all  ages,  from  the  child  of  ten  years  to  the  man  of  seventy. 
The  means  which  were  employed  in  this  revival  wrere  essentially 
the  same  which  God  has  blessed  in  former  years :  preaching, 
inquiring  meetings,  prayer  meetings,  and  visiting  from  house  to 
house.  In  the  spring  the  work  declined,  and  through  the  sum- 
mer no  special  interest  was  manifested.  Early  in  the  autumn 
another  effort  was  made  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  a  large 
accession  obtained  to  the  Temperance  Society.  In  October,  a 
protracted  meeting  was  held,  when  several  more  professed  to 
embrace  the  Saviour.  The  whole  number  who  have  united 
with  this  church  during  the  last  year,  is  one  hundred  and  six. 


11 

It  is  not  yet  four  years  since  this  church  was  organized  :  it  was 
set  off  from  the  church  of  Geneva,  and  consisted  at  first  of  nine- 
teen members.  It  owes  its  existence  and  its  present  prosperous 
condition  to  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  labors  of  the  American 
Home  Missionary  Society,  It  qow  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  members,  and  is  not  only  able  to  sustain  its  own  insti- 
tutions without  missionary  aid,  but  it  lias  raised  more  than  sixty 
dollars  in  aid  of  foreign  missions.  The  Sabbath  School  has 
about  eighty  members;  all  the  teachers,  and  about  twenty  of  the 
pupils,  are  hopefully  pious. 

PENN-YAN. 

Early  in  February  a  favorable  state  of  religious  feeling  began 
to  be  apparent  in  Penn-Yan.  Several  days  ^\'  fasting,  humilia- 
tion and  prayer  were  observed  ;  and  the  church  renewed  their 
covenant  with  God  and  each  other.  One  individual  before  the 
first  fast,  and  two  soon  after,  gave  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart. 
The  next  wreek  an  inquiry  meeting  was  appointed,  at  which  ten 
or  twelve  persons  were  found  anxious  for  their  salvation. 

The  meeting  for  inquiry  was  continued  weekly,  and  meetings 
for  prayer  ami  religious  instruction  were  attended  almost  every 
evening.  The  meetings  for  prayer  were,  for  the  most  part, 
strictly  prayer  meetings.  Sometimes  a  word  of  exhortation,  or 
a  livmn  of  praise,  occupied  a  moment  between  the  prayers ;  but 
usually  the  meetings  which  were  appointed  for  prayer  were  em- 
ploy ed  chiefly  in  that  exercise.  The  work  continued  with  undi- 
minished interest  till  the  opening  of  the  spring,  when,  by  the 
pressure  of  wordly  business,  it  began  obviously  to  decline.  At 
this  lime  a  protracted  meeting  of  four  day  a  continuance  was  tried 
with  happy  effect      Ten  or  twelve  W(  re  added  to  the  number  <>i 

hopeful  converts  as  the  result  of  this  meeting ;  and  a  much  larger 
number  from  neighboring  congregations  professed  to  have  been 
born  again. 

The  services  of  the  protracted  meeting  were  a  season  of  prayer 
at  sun-rise,  three  sermons  each  day,  and  a  meeting  of  inquiry, 


12 

and  another  for  prayer,  at  the  close  of  the  second  service.  Prayer 
meetings  were  also  attended  in  smaller  circles  in  different  places 
in  the  village.  During  this  meeting,  and  through  the  whole 
revival,  all  the  services  have  been  characterized  by  perfect  order 
and  regularity,  both  as  to  time  and  manner.  No  public  meetings 
have  been  continued  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  In  the 
instructions  that  have  been  given  to  the  young  converts,  great 
care  has  been  taken  to  guard  them,  if  possible,  against  trusting 
in  a  false  hope.  Many,  whose  hope  at  first  was  strong  and  san- 
guine, were,  on  being  instructed  in  the  nature  and  evidences  of 
a  change  of  heart,  induced  to  relinquish  their  hope  entirely,  and 
have  since  given  conclusive  evidence  that  it  was  at  first  but  a 
delusion.  This  course  of  instruction  and  personal  examination 
has,  in  all  cases,  been  previous  to  their  presenting  themselves  for 
admission  to  the  church.  The  number  received  to  the  church, 
is  one  hundred  and  twenty-three,  and  there  are  probably  twenty 
more  who  will  unite  at  a  suitable  time.  The  work,  in  all  its 
leading  features,  has  been  of  a  most  precious  character.  While 
members  of  the  church  have  been  active  and  engaged,  they  appear 
to  have  manifested  a  deep  sense  of  their  dependence  and  unwor- 
thiness.  In  the  early  stages  of  the  work,  and  while  the  church 
seemed  relying  on  an  arm  of  flesh,  a  desire  was  expressed  by 
some  to  call  in  the  aid  of  some  itinerant  evangelist,  and  that  a 
course  of  measures  might  be  introduced,  which  had  been  said  to 
have  been  employed  with  success  in  other  places.  But  the  peo- 
ple of  God  were  soon  brought  to  see  and  to  feel  that  in  God  alone 
was  their  hope,  and  no  wish  was  afterwards  expressed  for  any 
other  means  than  the  means  of  God's  own  appointment,  nor  any 
other  aid  than  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit ;  and,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  morning  prayer  meeting,  they  enjoyed  neither  in 
preaching,  nor  measures,  nor  manner,  nor  means,  of  any  kind, 
any  thing,  different  from  what  has  been  common  in  the  churches 
for  many  years. 

When  we  compare  the  present  condition  of  this  congregation 
with  what  it  was  six  yeas  ago,  the  change  is  surprising.  Then 
but  one  family,  where  prayers  were  regularly  attended,  was 


19 

found  in  the  whole  village ;  but  one  man,  except  the  minister, 
to  lead  in  a  public  prayer  meeting;  no  Sabbath  School,  do  reli- 
gions association  of  an?  kind,  except  a  small   female  prayer 

meeting,  and  the  church  was  then  so  small  and  scattered,  that 
twenty-fii  e  could  hard  I  \  be  collected.  \ow  there  are  more  than 
fifty  praying  families;  more  than  fifty  who  can  lead,  in  an  ac- 
ceptable and  edifying  manner,  in  public  prayer;  a  flourishing 
Sabbath  School ;  an  auxiliary  to  almost  every  benevolent  society 
in  the  land  ;  and  a  church  of  more  than  two  hundred  members. 
The  church  is  happily  united  in  sentiment  and  measures,  and 
the  various  objects  of  christian  benevolence  are  sustained  with 
increased  interest  and  efficiency.  In  September,  1831,  the  pas- 
tor relinquished  the  charge  of  the  congregation,  being  called,  in 
the  providence  of  God,  to  another  department  of  christian  labor. 
The  church  haVe,  with  entire  unanimity,  elected  another  pastor, 
and  have  the  prospect  of  soon  enjoying  again  the  privileges  of  a 
settled  ministry . 

ULYSSES. 

Early  in  December,  1830,  a  work  of  grace  commenced  in  the 
church  of  Ulysses,  and  continued  until  May  following.  It  was 
more  powerful  in  January  than  in  any  other  month  of  its  con- 
tinuance. At  no  time  was  there  more  than  a  minority  of  the 
church  much  engaged  in  religion.  The  revival  was  at  no  time 
general  throughout  the  town,  but  was  almost  wholly  suspended 
in  one  neighborhood  when  it  became  general  in  another.  The 
means  which  have  been  owned  and  blessed  of  God  in  promoting 
this  work,  have  been  essentially  the  same  that  have  been  em- 
ployed in  other  places:  the  exhibition  of  divine  truth;  enforcing 
the  sinner's  obligation  immediately  to  submit  to  God  ;  keeping 
constantly  in  view  the  necessity  of  the  Spirit's  influences,  and 
the  ability  and  the  obligation  of  the  sinner  to  yield  to  them;  and 
to  choose,  without  delay,  the  Lord  Jesus  as  his  God  and  Saviour. 
Much,  also,  was  attempted  to  impress  upon  the  church  a  sense  of 
responsibility ;  and  to  detect  and  expose  their  lukewarmness  and 


14 

formality.  A  meeting  of  the  church  on  each  alternate  Saturday 
was  held,  for  the  purpose  of  free  conversation  on  personal  reli- 
gion, embracing  external  duties,  as  well  as  religious  experience, 
and  whatever  else  might  conduce  to  edification.  This  meeting 
was  most  salutary  in  its  results.  Some  time  in  April,  a  pro- 
tracted meeting  was  held,  which  appeared  for  a  time  to  give  a 
new  impulse  to  the  work ;  but  soon  after,  it  subsided  altogether. 
The  number  added  to  the  Presbyterian  church  by  profession,  is 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

SENECA    FALLS. 

The  state  of  religion  began  to  assume  a  more  interesting  aspect 
in  Seneca  Falls  early  in  the  autumn  of  1830.  For  two  or  three 
years  previous  to  this,  the  prospect  had  been  gloomy  in  an  un- 
usual degree.  Several  perplexing  cases  of  discipline  had  occur- 
red, one  after  another,  in  rapid  succession,  till  it  seemed  as  if 
the  very  foundation  was  parting  asunder,  and  the  whole  fabric 
crumbling  down.  But  even  then  there  was  praying  and  weep- 
ing in  secret  places.  Some  there  were  who  even  then  could 
look  through  the  darkness  and  the  storm,  and  could  lay  hold 
upon  the  promises  of  God.  A  female  prayer  meeting,  the 
monthly  concert,  and  some  other  meetings,  called  together  a  few 
constant  souls,  who  knew  where  their  strength  lay,  and  there 
they  were  strong  in  the  Lord. 

For  a  year  or  more  previous  to  the  close  of  1830,  favorable 
appearances  had  been  witnessed,  and  some  hopeful  conversions 
had  occurred.  An  increasing  sense  of  the  necessity  of  a  revival 
was  manifested  on  the  part  of  christians,  and  a  kind  of  expectation 
was  entertained  by  some  that  the  blessing  was  in  store  and  would 
be  bestowed  soon.  A  general  impression  prevailed  that  some- 
thing must  be  done,  and  done  soon.  At  an  evening  prayer 
meeting,  it  was  proposed  that  each  christian  present  should  en- 
gage to  converse  faithfully  with  at  least  one  impenitent  sinner 
the  next  day,  and  several  engaged  to  do  it.  The  result  was 
manifestly  favorable.     Some  time  in  December,  at  a  little  prayer 


15 

meeting,  an  unusual  spirit  of  prayer,  an  earnest  wrestling  of  the 
soul  with  God,  was  manifest.  Towards  the  close  of  the  meeting, 
a  requesl  was  made  to  the  impenitent  *  bo  were  present,  and  who 
desired  an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  God's  people,  to  signify  it 

1>\  rising.  Five  or  six  arose.  This  was  the  first  public  ex- 
pression  of  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  impenitent.  A  general 
visitation  of  the  congregation  was  now  commenced,  and  many 
were  found  anxiously  concerned  for  their  souls.  The  meetings 
became  crowded,  attentive,  and  solemn.  On  one  occasion,  near 
the  close  of  the  evening  service,  it  was  proposed  to  such  as  were 
resolved  to  submit  to  God  that  night,  to  signify  it  by  rising ;  seven 
arose,  and  all  but  one  were  the  next  morning  rejoicing  in  hope, 
and  that  one  embraced  a  hope  soon  after.  The  same  experiment 
Was  tried  two  or  three  times  afterwards,  but  not  with  the  same 
success.  It  was,  upon  mature  consideration,  judged  more  safe, 
and  more  in  accordance  with  apostolic  usage,  to  press  upon  sin- 
Bers  the  duty  of  immediate  submission,  and  to  do  it  without 
delay  ;  to  surrender  themselves  at  once  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  leave  it  there.  Meetings  for  the  anxious  inquirers,  con- 
ducted in  the  usual  way,  were  attended  with  very  favorable 
results.  These  meetings  were  evidently  much  blessed.  The 
work  soon  extended  to  other  parts  of  the  town,  where  frequent 
meetings  were  held,  and  the  same  general  course  of  measures 
pursued.  The  work  continued  through  the  winter,  and  resulted 
in  the  addition  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  to  the  church. 
In  April,  a  protracted  meeting  of  three  days  continuance  was 
attended,  it  is  thought,  with  some  good  fruits.  The  preaching 
was  designed  to  urge  upon  sinners  the  duty  and  the  reasonableness 
of  immediate  repentance,  and  the  renunciation  of  every  self-justi- 
fying excuse.  "But,"  says  the  pastor,  "I  am  afraid  that  the 
sovereign  efficac}  of  divine  grace  and  the  reason  of  its  necessity, 
were  presented  with  less  frequency  and  plainness  than  I  now 
think  should  have  been  done."  Though  these  truths  were  often 
exhibited,  illustrated,  and  enforced  with  the  greatest  plainness, 
yet  it  is  now  believed  that  a  still  greater  prominence  should  have 


16 

been  given  them.  Females  never  were  requested  nor  encoura- 
ged, by  the  pastor,  to  speak  or  pray  in  promiscuous  assemblies, 
and  never,  but  once,  did  such  a  thing  occur  when  he  was  present. 
Lay  brethren  were  encouraged  to  take  part  in  meetings,  and 
were,  no  doubt,  the  means  of  doing  good,  especially  where  the 
pastor  could  not  be  present. 

PHELPS. 

About  the  last  of  December,  1830,  a  revival  commenced  in 
the  northwest  part  of  the  town  of  Phelps,  and  continued  till  near 
the  first  of  March.  The  usual  methods  were  adopted ;  inquiring 
meetings  were  appointed,  meetings  for  preaching  and  prayer, 
and  conference,  were  attended  during  the  week,  and  at  one 
period,  fifteen  or  more  hopeful  conversions  occurred  in  a  single 
week.  By  the  first  of  March,  the  number  who  had  expressed  a 
hope  was  not  far  from  fifty. 

The  congregation  had  hitherto  worshipped  in  two  places,  three 
or  four  miles  distant  from  each  other.  The  inconvenience  of 
this  began  now  to  be  more  sensibly  felt,  and  it  was  proposed  to 
organize  two  distinct  congregations.  The  agitation  of  this  ques- 
tion, and  of  another,  consequent  upon  it,  viz.  the  dismission  of 
the  pastor,  evidently  had  an  unfavorable  influence  upon  the  pro- 
gress of  the  revival,  and  though  it  did  not,  as  it  is  believed, 
wholly  subside,  cases  of  conversion  were  very  rare  for  two  or 
three  months.  In  May  the  congregation  was  divided,  and  a  new 
church  organized,  called  the  church  of  Vienna.  It  was  organi- 
zed with  ninety  members.  Soon  after  its  organization,  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  visit  it  in  mercy,  and  thus  own  it  as  a  branch  of 
his  own  planting.  In  June  a  protracted  meeting  was  held,  with 
happy  effect.  The  whole  number  added  to  the  church  since  its 
organization,  is  eighty-eight.  A  second  protracted  meeting  was 
held  in  December  last,  but  nothing  of  special  interest  resulted 
from  it.  The  cause  of  Temperance  is  flourishing  ;  Bible  Class 
and  Sabbath  School  instruction  is  enjoyed ;  and  the  various  ob- 


17 
jccts  of  christian  benevolent  receive  increased  attention.     In  the 
east  congregation,  now  called  the  congregation  of  Phelps,  the 
work  continued  through  the  summer,  and  forty*seven  have  been 
added  to  that  church.     Both  churches  now  enjoy  stated  preaching. 

LYONS. 

Some  time  in  January,  1831,  favorable  indications  were  ob- 
servable in  the  congregation  of  Lyons.  A  few  members  of  the 
church  became  more  engaged,  and  began  to  manifest  a  deeper 
interest  in  the  cause.  The  impenitent  soon  began  to  be  alarmed. 
The  anxious  room  became  thronged,  and  sinners  were  daily  born 
into  the  kingdom.  "  The  means  which  have  been  most  blessed," 
says  the  pastor,  "were  the  plain  exhibition  of  truth  from  the 
pulpit,  in  the  Bible  Class,  and  in  the  Sabbath  School,  and  at  the 
fire-side  ;"  visiting  from  house  to  house,  prayer  meetings,  &c. 
The  first  convert  was  a  member  of  the  Bible  Class  and  a  Sabbath 
School  teacher.  Most  of  the  converts  were  in  early  life.  More 
opposition  has  been  manifested  towards  this  revival,  than  towards 
any  other  within  our  bounds.  This  opposition  has  appeared  from 
the  commencement,  and  is  still  continued.  The  whole  number 
who  have  unit  d  with  the  church,  is  one  hundred  and  six.  Re- 
centlv,  an  increased  degree  of  interest  has  been  manifested  in  this 
congregation,  and  a  number  of  hopeful  conversions  have  taken 
place.     A  favorable  state  of  religious  feeling  still  continues. 

HECTOR. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1831,  nothing  of  special 

interest   was   apparent   in   the   congregation.      In  addition  to  the 

stated   labors  of  the   Sabbath,  and  occasional    lectures  at  other 

times,  weekly  prayer  meetings  were  maintained,  and  two  Bible 

Classes,  in  different  parts  of  the  congregation.     The  appearances 

under  these  means  were  various.     Sometimes  deep  solemnity 

was  manifested,  at  other  times  nothing  special  was  noticeable. 

3 


18 

About  the  last  of  March  a  protracted  meeting  was  held,  of  three 
days  continuance.  The  services  of  each  day  were,  a  prayer 
meeting  at  eight  in  the  morning ;  preaching,  followed  by  an  ex- 
hortation, at  ten  o'clock,  and  again  at  two  in  the  afternoon ;  and 
a  similar  exercise  in  the  evening.  At  the  close  of  the  evening 
service  a  season  of  prayer  was  observed,  and  those  who  desired 
a  special  interest  in  prayer,  were  requested  to  signify  it  by  rising. 
In  the  seasons,  for  prayer,  the  ministers  and  laymen  led  in  the 
services  as  they  were  called  upon  respectively  by  the  pastor. 
The  exercises  were  well  attended,  the  congregation  was  large 
and  solemn,  and  a  few  persons  were  hopefully  born  again.  The 
seriousness  continued  but  a  short  time.  Twenty-four  have  united 
with  the  church  on  a  profession  of  their  faith  ;  ten  of  this  number 
are  heads  of  families.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  almost  all  the 
youth  who  have  been  the  subjects  of  this  revival,  were  members 
of  the  Bible  Class  or  of  the  Sabbath  School.  A  small  number 
indulge  a  hope,  who  have  not  yet  united  with  the  church.  At 
present  the  state  of  religion  is  low.  The  ordinary  means  of  grace 
are  sustained.  The  various  objects  of  benevolence  receive  at- 
tention, and  a  large  addition  to  the  Temperance  Society  has  been 
made.  But  the  special  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  the 
conviction  and  conversion  of  souls,  are  not  now  enjoyed. 

JUNIUS. 

A  revival  commenced  in  this  place  some  time  in  March,  1831  ? 
and  continued  about  three  months.  Its  first  indications  were  an 
increased  spirit  of  prayer  among  the  members  of  the  church.  A 
protracted  meeting  was  held  about  the  last  of  April ;  but  from 
this  meeting  no  special  results  were  witnessed.  It  was  at  no 
time  very  powerful.  About  thirty  have  embraced  a  hope  in 
Christ.  The  objects  of  christian  benevolence  receive  attention. 
The  Temperance  Reformation  is  advancing,  and  the  cause  of 
truth  and  righteousness  is  gradually  gaining  ground.  The  church 
now  contains  about  eighty  members. 


19 

G  0  RH  AM. 

A  revival  of  religion  commenced  in  this  place  in  March,  1831, 
and  continued  about  three  months.  Forty-one,  as  the  fruits  of 
it,  have  been  added  to  the  church.  The  means  which  were 
employed,  Were  those  which  God  in  every  age  has  blessed;  the 
exhibition  of  divine  truth  on  the  Sabbath,  frequent  meetings  for 
prayer,  and  visiting  from  house  to  house.  During  the  summer 
and  fall,  the  state  of  religion  was  less  interesting.  Recently  a 
protracted  meeting  has  been  held,  and  it  is  believed  that  some 
souls  have  been  horn  again.  Twelve  or  fourteen  are  rejoicing 
in  hope,  and  many  more  are  now  inquiring  what  they  shall  do  to 
be  saved.  Bible  Class  and  Sabbath  School  instruction  has  been 
successfully  pursued.  The  monthly  tract  distribution  is  prose- 
cuted, and  the  cause  of  temperance  is  advancing. 

RUSIIVILLE. 

It  was  not  till  some  time  in  the  month  of  March,  1831,  that 
the  state  of  religion  in  Rushville  assumed  the  features  of  a  revi- 
val. There  was,  indeed,  much  conversation  about  a  revival 
previous  to  this,  and  a  solicitude  was  often  expressed  to  call  in 
such  foreign  aid  as  some  imagined  would  secure  the  desired 
result.  At  one  period,  the  solicitude  on  this  subject  was  consi- 
der, ihle  ;  but  in  all  this  it  could  be  distinctly  seen  that  there  was 
little  or  nothing  of  that  deep  self-abasement,  that  humility  and 
dependence  upon  God  alone,  which  are  ordinarily  the  first  indi- 
cations of  a  work  of  grace.  They  did  not  go  directly  to  the 
throne  of  God,  and  with  the  Psalmist  exclaim,  "  Wilt  not  thou 
receive  us  again,  that  thy  people  may  rejoice  in  thee  .?"  but  there 
was  manifestly  an  unwarrantable  reliance  upon  an  arm  of  flesh. 
It  was  going  "down  to  Egypt  for  help,  staying  upon  horses 
and  trusting  in  chariots,"  instead  of  looking  "to  the  Holy  One 
of  Israel,  and  trusting  in  the  Lord."  And  it  was  not  until 
all  expectations  of  this  description  were  cut  off,  and  the  church 
brought  to  realize  that  all  their  strength  was  in  God,  and  all 


20 

their  hope  was  in  his  mercy,  that  the  work  of  divine  grace 
actually  commenced.  This  was  about  the  first  of  March.  The 
meetings  for  prayer  and  religious  conference,  as  well  as  the  pub- 
lic services  on  the  Sabbath,  became  crowded  and  solemn,  and, 
for  about  three  months,  the  work  continued  without  any  apparent 
diminution  of  interest.  The  number  who  hope  that  they  have 
embraced  the  Saviour,  is  about  fifty. 

The  means  which  have  been  most  obviously  rendered  instru- 
mental in  the  work,  have  been  those  that  are  usually  employed 
in  revivals :  teaching  "  publicly,  and  from  house  to  house," 
frequent  meetings  for  prayer  and  conference,  and  meetings  for 
inquiry  and  religious  instruction.  The  general  influence  of  this 
revival  upon  the  church  and  congregation  has  been  happy.  An 
increased  interest  has  been  excited  in  the  cause  of  benevolence. 
The  Temperance  Reformation  is  advancing,  and  peace  and  order 
and  kind  feeling  pervade  the  church.  The  Sabbath  School  and 
Bible  Class  are  flourishing,  and  the  services  of  the  Sabbath  and 
weekly  lectures  are  well  attended. 

WEST   DRE  S  DE  N. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1830,  and  in  the  spring  of  1831 
enjoyed  a  revival  of  religion.  The  church  has  increased  during 
the  year  from  eight  to  twenty-seven.  The  congregation  is  small. 
The  monthly  tract  distribution  is  adopted.  The  cause  of  mis- 
sions receives  attention,  and  more  than  sixty  dollars  are  subscri- 
bed for  the  present  year,  in  aid  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 

OVI  D. 

God  has  been  merciful  to  the  church  in  Ovid  the  year  past. 
Though  he  has  not  made  those  displays  of  his  mercy  which  have 
been  witnessed  in  some  other  churches,  yet  some  precious  mani- 
festations of  his  grace  have  been  enjoyed.  The  services  of  the 
Sabbath  have  been  well  attended,  and  an  increased  interest  felt 
in  the  discussion  of  gospel  truth.     Two  weekly  prayer  meetings 


2\ 
have  been  constantly  maintained,  and  have  often  been  seasons  o( 
special  interest.  Bible  Class  and  Sabbath  School  instruction  is 
enjoyed,  and  there  has  been  much  visiting  from  house  to  house. 
These  means  have  been  blessed  to  the  awakening  and  conversion 
of  some  souls.  Thirty-eight  have  united  with  the  church  during 
the  year,  and  there  is  now  cheering  evidence  that  God  is  near, 
and  is  still  waiting  to  be  CTacioua, 


WILLIAMSO  N. 

The  chinch  in  Williamson  has  been  for  many  years  in  a  low 
and  feeble  state  ;  often  destitute  of  any  preaching,  and  at  no  time 
since  its  organization  has  it  been  favored  with  a  settled  ministry. 
A  revival  commenced  in  this  place  in  March,  and  continued  until 
May.  In  September,  a  protracted  meeting  was  attended  in  one 
part  of  the  congregation,  which  was  well  attended,  and  was 
successful  in  its  issue.  The  whole  number  who  have  united 
with  the  church  during  the  year,  including  those  who  have  -joined 
by  letter,  is  about  eighty.  A  convenient  house  of  worship  has 
been  erected  during  the  last  year.  Weekly  lectures  and  the 
Bible  Class  are  attended  with  a  good  degree  of  interest. 

S  OD  U  S. 

The  revival  commenced  in  this  place  the  latter  part  of  winter, 
and  continued  through  the  spring.  On  the  first  Sabbath  in  May, 
eighteen,  atid  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  June,  seventeen,  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  communion  of  the  church.  Since  then,  eight  others 
have  been  received  ;  in  all,  forty-three.  A  protracted  meeting 
was  held  in  the  month  of  May,  which  was  interesting  in  its 
character,  and  favorable  in  its  results.     The  narrative  from  this 

place  further  Mates  that  the  labors  of  an  itinerant  preacher  were 
employed,  and  the  method  of  calling  on  the  awakened  "openly 
to  come  forward,  as  a  iesthnon\  of  their  determination  to  renounce 
sin,"  wTas  adopted  with  success.  "  Although, "  says  the  narra- 
tive, u  the  work  of  God  among  us  has  been  small,  compared  with 


22 

the  rich  displays  of  his  power  towards  sister  churches  ;  still  we 
would  not  be  unmindful  of  the  day  of  small  things.  And  while 
we  acknowledge  the  good  hand  of  God  in  the  bestowment  of  his 
blessings  upon  an  undeserving  people,  we  still  ask  an  interest  in 
your  prayers  that  we  may  be  more  faithful  in  the  cause  of  Christ." 

NEWARK. 

From  the  church  in  Newark  no  report  has  been  received, 
except  for  the  last  four  or  five  months.  An  extensive  revival  is 
said  to  have  existed  there  during  the  last  spring,  and  a  large 
number  was  added  to  the  church.  The  measures  said  to  have 
been  adopted  there  were  different  from  those  which  have  gene- 
rally been  employed  in  this  Presbytery.  Since  the  revival,  the 
state  of  religion,. according  to  the  report  before  us,  has  been  on 
the  decline,  and  there  is  much  to  be  deplored  in  the  present  state 
of  things. 

PALMYRA. 

The  revival  in  this  place  commenced  near  the  last  of  Septem- 
ber, 1830.  No  extraordinary  measures  were  used  to  rouse  and 
quicken  the  church.  A  few  individuals  began  to  feel  and  deplore 
the  state  of  spiritual  declension  which  at  that  time  existed ;  the 
spirit  of  prayer  began  to  revive  in  the  church,  and  its  members, 
one  by  one,  came  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord.  No  uncommon 
measures  were  adopted  to  produce  excitement :  the  principal 
means  used  were  the  preaching  of  the  word  and  prayer.  There 
was  very  little  exhortation  from  the  lay  brethren.  In  social 
meetings,  most  of  the  time  was  spent  in  prayer.  As  the  spirit 
of  prayer  and  active  exertion  increased,  souls  were  hopefully 
converted.  In  the  early  part  of  the  revival,  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer  was  observed  with  good  effect.  The  meetings  were  mul- 
tiplied, not  by  design,  but  unavoidably,  through  the  force  of 
circumstances.  The  meetings  were  characterized  by  great  still- 
ness and  solemnity.     Christians  were  fervent  in  their  prayers ; 


23 

the  word  preached  became  more  and  more  effectual,  and  a  deep 
solemnity  pervaded  the  whole  community  :  few  remained  wholly 
unconcerned.  Eightjr-two  have  united  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  some  of  whom  were  heads  of  families.  The  Latter  part 
of  February,  the  work  began  to  decline-;  at  do  time,  however, 
has  the  spirit  of  prayer  wholly  declined,  nor  have  christians 
reverted  to  that  state  of  lukewarmness  which  existed  before  the 
revival. 

ROSE. 

The  state  of  religion  in  this  place,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
last  year,  was  unusually  low.  The  church  consisted  of  only 
tw« ntv-two  members.  During  the  spring  and  summer  a  revival 
of  religion  was  enjoyed,  and  seventeen  have  been  added  to  the 
church.  Meetings  for  conference  and  prayer  are  well  attended, 
and  the  congregation  is  as  large  as  can  reasonably  be  expected. 
The  labors  of  a  minister,  one  half  of  the  time,  for  the  last  six 
months,  have  been  bestowed  on  this  congregation.  A  Tempe- 
rance Society  has  been  formed  here,  which  is  doing  much  good  ; 
and  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  is  gradually  gaining 
ground. 

WOLCOTT,   ( Second  Church.) 

A  "season  of  refreshing"  has  been  enjoyed  in  this  place  du- 
ring the  last  year,  and  sixteen  have  professed  their  faith  in  Christ. 
A  few  more  are  cherishing  a  hope.  The  congregation  is  small 
and  feeble,  but  increasing  in  strength  and  efficiency  . 

PORT    BAY. 

The  state  of  religion  in  Port  Bay  has  been  unusually  interest* 
ing  the  last  year.  The  church  are  united  and  harmonious,  and 
the  Lord  has  been  with  them  by  his  spirit  and  grace.  Twenty- 
five  have  been  added  to  this  little  church  as  the  fruits  of  the  late 


24 

revival ;  twenty  of  whom  have  been,  or  now  arc,  members  of 
the  Sabbath  School.  A  large  accession  has  been  made  to  the 
Temperance  Society,  and  the  state  of  morals,  as  well  as  of  reli- 
gion, is  greatly  improved. 

EAST    BLOOM  FIELD, 

Although  this  church  is  now  Congregational  in  its  form  of 
government,  yet,  as  their  pastor  is  a  member  of  this  Presbytery, 
and  as  their  reports  are  not  made  to  any  other  body,  it  is  thought 
proper  to  include  the  notice  of  the  late  revival  there  in  this  nar- 
rative. The  wTork  commenced  in  one  section  of  the  town,  in 
October,  1830,  and  by  the  middle  of  December  it  became  gene- 
ral throughout  the  congregation.  The  services  of  the  Sabbath, 
the  weekly  lectures,  and  meetings  for  social  prayer,  were  crowd- 
ed and  solemn.  Christians  appeared  to  feel  for  sinners,  and 
sinners  to  feel  for  themselves.  The  means  employed,  were  the 
stated  services  of  the  Sabbath,  meetings  for  inquiry  and  religious 
conversation,  prayer  meetings,  and  visiting  from  house  to  house. 
In  all  the  services,  a  special  prominence  was  given  to  the  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel.  The  number  added  to  the  church  is  one 
hundred  and  eleven.  A  new  impulse  has  been  given  to  the 
cause  of  benevolence,  and  the  congregation  have  raised  for  Edu- 
cation, Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  Sabbath  School,  and  Tracts, 
more  than  nine  hundred  dollars. 

FAYETTE,   ( First  Church.) 

This  church  has  not  enjoyed  the  labors  of  a  settled  minister 
since  1828.  Although  they  have  had  preaching  at  different 
periods,  and  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  they  have  had  no 
stated  laborer,  the  consequence  is,  that  the  church  has  diminished 
from  seventy-six  to  fifty-two.  They  had  no  share  in  the  revi\  alfl 
with  which  all  our  sister  churches  were  visited  during  the  last 
year,  and,  until  within  a  few  weeks,  the  prospect  has  been  pe- 
culiarly gloomy.     About  the  first  of  January,  1832,  the  church 


80 

began  to  awake  from  her  slumbers,  and  since  that  time  a  state  of 
religious  feeling  and  action  bas  existed,  which  may  he  denomi- 
nated a  revival.     Twelve  <»r  fifteen  h.ive  recently  expressed  a 

hope,  and  t\\ vnh -live  or  thirty  more  are  awakened.  Meetings 
for  public  and  social  worship  are  well  attended,  and  a  good  de- 
cree of  interest  pervades  tin-  congregation,  A  Temperance 
Society  has  been  formed,  of  about  fifty  members,  and  the  cause 
of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  is  aided  to  some  extent. 


FAYETTE,   (Second  Church.) 

Some  attention  to  religion  was  manifested  in  the  second  church 
of  Fayette  during  the  last  winter,  and  a  small  addition  was  made 
to  the  church.  A  state  of  religious  feeling,  more  favorable  than 
is  usual,  exists  there  at  the  present  time. 

WATE  RLOO. 

Early  in  February,  1831,  an  effort  was  made  in  Waterloo  to 
advance  the  cause  of  Temperance,  and  almost  immediately  a 
Revival  of  religion  ensued.  An  unusual  interest  began  to  be 
felt  on  the  part  of  christians,  and  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  the 
impenitent  were  beginning  to  inquire  what  they  must  do  to  be 
saved.  A  state  of  religious  feeling  was  soon  indicated  of  a  highly 
interesting  character.  The  work  was  general,  and  for  a  short 
time  powerful.  About  one  hundred  have  professed  religion. 
Some  additional  interest  has  been  exerted  in  the  cause  of  benev- 
olence. The  Temperance  cause  has  excited  a  new  interest,  and 
>nd  it  ion  and  prospects  of  the  congregation  are  in  many  res- 
pects improved. 

GALEN. 

The  state  of  religion  in  Galen  began  to  assume  a  more  favor- 
able aspect  early  in  the  spring  of  1831.  A  protracted  meeting 
was  held  in  April,  which  resulted  favorably.     During  the  sum- 

4 


26 
mer  and  fall  a  great  declension  was  manifest.  Another  protracted 
meeting  was  held  in  December,  and  some  additional  interest  ex- 
cited. The  number  added  to  the  church  is  about  one  hundred. 
This  church  still  remains  without  a  pastor,  and  has  only  occasional 
preaching.  There  are  three  Sabbath  Schools  within  the  town; 
a  Bible  Society,  which  has  supplied  all  the  destitute  families  in 
the  town  during  the  last  year  ;  a  Tract  Society,  which,  however, 
has  done  but  little  the  past  year ;  and  a  Temperance  Society  of 
between  three  hundred  and  four  hundred  members.  About  forty 
dollars  have  been  subscribed  for  Foreign  Missions. 

BENTON. 

An  increased  attention  to  religion  began  to  be  manifested  in 
this  place  about  the  first  of  March.  An  usual  spirit  of  prayer 
was  enjoved  by  the  members  of  the  church,  and  meetings  were 
attended  by  greater  numbers,  and  with  unusual  interest.  The 
work,  however,  did  not  assume  the  features  of  a  revival  until 
May.  From  this  time  cases  of  hopeful  conversion  were  frequent 
for  several  weeks,  and  between  forty  and  fifty  have  professed 
their  faith  in  Christ.  In  November,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clary  was 
called  home  to  his  reward.  He  fell  a  martyr  to  his  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  Christ,  in  the  labors  of  a  protracted  meeting  in  a  neigh- 
boring congregation.     The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed. 

ROMULUS. 

In  January  and  February,  1831,  an  unusual  fervency  and  im- 
portunity in  prayer  was  evident  among  the  people  of  God.  In 
March,  an  awakened  anxiety  began  to  be  manifested  among  the 
impenitent.  Meetings  were  thronged  ;  the  word  of  God  was 
quick  and  powerful ;  and  many  were  brought  to  submit  them- 
selves to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  In  three  weeks,  fifty  were 
cherishing  a  hope  in  the  pardoning  mercy  of  God.  The  work 
continued  about  three  months,  and  eighty-nine,  as  the  fruits  of 
it,  have  united  with  the  church.     Among  the  subjects  are  many 


27 

of  the  youth,  some  of  middle  age,  but  none  in  advanced  years. 
The  means  employed  have  been  do  other  than  those  with  which 
the  Presbyterian  church  has  been  long  familiar.  "To  the  honor 
of  God  and  of  his  truth,"  says  the  pastor,  l"  1  must  observe,  that 
in  no  year  since  mj  connexion  .with  this  church,  have  the  dis- 
tinguishing doctrines  of  the  gospel  been  so  often  exhibited  and  so 
much  insisted  on  as  during  the  last  yea/5  and  the  divine  blessing 
has  evidently  sanctioned  this  course."  The  monthly  Tract 
distribution  has  been  adopted,  Sabbath  School  and  Bible  Class 
instruction  successfully  pursued,  and  a  Liberal  attention  paid  to 
the  benevolent  operations  of  the  day. 


From  tills;  detail  it  appears  that  all  our  churches  which  have 
enjoved  the  stated  ministrations  of  the  gospel,  with  two  exceptions, 
have  shared  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  in  this  work  of  grace. 
The  whole  number  added  to  the  church  within  our  hounds,  as  the 
fruit  of  these  revivals,  is  about  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty. 

This  precious  work,  in  its  general  features,  has  not  been  essen- 
tially different  from  former  revivals,  except  that  it  has  been  more 
powerful,  more  extensive,  and  has  enrolled  among  its  subjects 
an  unusual  number  who  had  been  openly  hostile  to  the  truth. 
Less  opposition  has  been  manifested  than  is  usual  in  revivals  of 

SO  much  power,  and  less,  perhaps,  than  is  usual  has  occurred  in 
its  progress  in  which  a  captious,  unbelieving  world  would  find 
Occasion  to  complain.  The  doctrines  which  have  held  a  promi- 
nent place  in  the  preaching  generally  }  are  the  plain  and  humbling 
doctrines  of  the  orthodox  faith  J  the  doctrines  of  our  standards;  of 
the  reformation,  and  of  the  bible.  These  }\u\  e  been  exhibited,  not 
as  matters  of  controversy  or  as  problems,  but  as  matters  of  fact 
and  of  faith.  While  sinners  have  been  taught  to  regard  the  de- 
pravity of  their  hearts  as  total,  the}  have  been  also  taught  to 
regard  it  as  consisting  in  their  own  voluntary  rebellion  against 


28 

God,  "  whereby,"  as  our  confession  of  faith  expresses  it,  u  we 
are  utterly  indisposed  to  all  good,"  "  and  wholly  inclined  to  all 
evil."  Not  the  want  of  a  power,  but  the  want  of  an  inclination 
to  do  the  will  of  God.  The  inability  predicable  of  the  sinner  in 
his  depraved  condition  has  been  represented,  as  the  standards  of 
our  church  very  forcibly  express  it,  as  an  "  inability  of  will" 
regarding  the  sinner  as  bound  at  all  times  to  keep  the  whole  law 
and  to  do  the  whole  will  of  God.  The  doctrine  of  divine  sove- 
reignty and  divine  decrees,  the  doctrine  of  election  and  effectual 
calling,  of  regeneration  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  justification  by  faith, 
and  the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints,  together  with  all  those 
leading  truths  which  have  long  been  designated,  by  way  of  dis- 
tinction, the  "  doctrines  of  grace,"  have  been  constantly  kept  in 
view  as  the  fundamental  articles  of  the  christian  faith,  and  the 
only  permanent  foundation  of  christian  character. 

The  labor  generally  has  been  performed  by  the  pastors  and 
stated  ministers ;  assisted  in  prayer  meetings  and  parochial  visit- 
ing by  the  elders  and  other  members  of  the  church.  The  young 
converts  also  have  exerted  an  important  influence,  by  personal 
conversation,  and  in  meetings  for  social  prayer.  It  may  be 
mentioned,  as  one  distinguishing  feature  of  this  revival,  that  the 
converts  generally  seem  to  have  imbibed,  in  an  unusual  degree, 
the  spirit  of  missionaries.  No  sooner  did  they  indulge  ;i  hope 
that  they  had  themselves  accepted  the  invitation  to  the  marriage 
feast,  than  they  were  ready  to  go  out  into  the  highways  and 
hedges,  and  compel  others  to  come  in,  that  the  house  might  be 
filled,  and  the  table  furnished  with  guests.  In  some  instances 
the  labor  of  itinerants  was  employed,  but,  with  few  exceptions, 
with  no  very  obvious  success.  Seldom,  perhaps,  lias  the  case 
been  known,  in  which  God  has  so  obviously  honored  the  mean* 
of  his  own  appointment,  in  distinction  from  those  of  human  in- 
vention, and  the  labors  of  a  staled  ministry,  in  distinction  from 
those  of  itinerant  evangelists,  as  in  the  revivals  within  our 
bounds. 

The  means  which  have  been  most  commonly  employed  and 
most  obviously  blessed  in  these  revivals,  have  been,  in  general,  no 


29 

other  than  the  ordinar)    means  of  grace.     In  ieveral  of  our 
churches  protracted  meetings  were  held  ;  in  some  instances  with 
desirable  results,  but  in  others  without  anj  apparent  effect,  other 
than  might  be  expected  from  the  preaching  of  the  word  in  other 
circumstances.     In  some  places  the  practice  of  calling  out  those 
who  were  awakened,  at  the  close  of  public  worship,  to  take 
What  was  called  the  "uiwinvs  scut"  was  adopted.      This  prac- 
tice was  by  no  means  general  at  any  period  of  the  revival   and 
in  some  instances,  where  it  was  at  first   introduced,  it  was  after- 
wards  discontinued,   from  a    full   conviction   that   so  soon   as   it 
ceased  to  interest  by  its  novelty,   no   beneficial   results   were  ac- 
complished by  it.     In  most  of  our  congregations  the  usual  method 
of  holding  inquiring  meetings,"  for  personal  conversation  and 
instruction,  has  been  found  to  .secure  the  attendance  of  a  much 
larger  number;  to  afford  greater  facilities  for  instruction  suited 
to  the  condition  of  each    individual,  and  to  be,  all  things  consi- 
dered, the  tc  more  excellent   wa\." 

The  religious  sen  ices  generally  have  been  orderly,  still  and 
solemn.     Never  interrupted  b\  loud  and  boisterous  expressions, 
cither  of  grief  or  joy  ;   never  rendered  oileiisivc  to  the  ear  of  re- 
finement by  low  allusions  or  coarse  and  vulgar  expressions,  nor 
painful  to  the  ear  of  piety  by  an  irreverent  and  affected  familiarity 
with   sacred  things.      No  quaint  and  questionable  expedients 
have  been  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  effect ;  no  audible  prav- 
ing  of  females  in   promiscuous  assemblies;   nothing,  in  short,  in 
the  way  of  means  or  measures,  except  as  above  specified,  which 
has  not  been  common  in  conducting  revivals  of  religion  since 
the  days  of  Edwards.      From  some  of  these  remarks  a  tew   of 
our   churches   are    to   he   excepted.      These   churches,    ho\\<\,r. 
with  perhaps  one  exception,  will, nut  pastors,  and  the  inno- 
vations which  have  heen  made  upon  the  ordinary  modes  of  wor- 
ship,  have   heen   introduced   by   itinerant    preachers,  who  do  not 
belong  to  this  Presbytery.     Hut  lew,  if  any,  of  than  innovations 
are  now  regarded  as  improvements,  and   (acts  have  shown  th.it 
generally,  if  not  universally,  the  revivals  have  heen  mod  power- 
ful, of  the  longest  continuance,  and  most  desirable  in  their  results, 


30 

in  those  places  where  there  has  heen  the  least  departure  from 
the  ordinary  methods  of  conducting  revivals  in  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

It  is  obviously  one  distinguishing  feature  of  these  revivals, 
that  an  unusual  proportion  of  young  men  are  among  the  con- 
verts. This  circumstance  has  been  regarded  as  an  unequivocal 
indication,  in  the  providence  of  God,  that  an  increased  effort  was 
called  for  to  provide  the  means  of  education  for  those  who  might 
be  disposed  to  prepare  for  the  gospel  ministry.  An  arrangement 
has  accordingly  been  made  to  employ  an  additional  agent,  to 
forward  the  objects  of  the  American  Education  Society  in  the 
western  counties  of  the  state,  and  one  of  the  members  of  this 
Presbytery  is  now  actively  engaged  in  visiting  the  congregations, 
collecting  funds,  &c.  and  in  various  ways  promoting  this  impor- 
tant object. 

An  auxiliary  to  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  has  just  been  organized 
within  our  bounds,  and  about  three  thousand  four  hundred  dol- 
lars subscribed  in  aid  of  its  funds.  The  cause  of  Home  Missions, 
of  Education,  and  Tracts,  has  received  an  increased  degree  of 
attention.  A  new  impulse  has  been  given  to  the  cause  of  Tem- 
perance, and  from  sixty  to  eighty  young  men  have  commenced  a 
course  of  study,  with  a  view  to  the  gospel  ministry,  the  past  year. 

These  revivals  have  been  most  happy  in  promoting  a  spirit  of 
harmony  and  christian  love  in  our  churches.  At  no  time  have 
our  churches  been  in  a  condition  apparently  so  favorable  for 
vigorous,  systematic  and  united  action  as  at  present.  Entire 
harmony  of  sentiment,  feeling  and  action  prevails  among  the 
ministers.  No  collisions  of  any  kind  are  known  to  exist,  and  in 
several  of  our  congregations,  revivals  are  in  progress  at  the  pre- 
sent time.  May  the  triumphs  of  truth  and  righteousness  be 
perpetuated  and  increased,  until  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord 
shall  fill  the  earth  as  the  waters  fill  the  seas ;  until  the  king- 
dom of  Christ  shall  come,  and  his  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it 
is  in  heaven. 


POSTSCRIPT. 

As  the  publication  of  this  narrative  has  been  unexpectedly  de- 
layed for  several  weeks,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  add,  that 
since  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  early  in  February,  several  of 
our  congregations  have  been  visited  with  the  special  influences 
of  the  Spirit.  In  some,  protracted  meetings  have  been  held  with 
success ;  in  others,  such  meetings  are  still  in  progress.  The 
churches  in  which  the  work  of  grace  has  been  most  powerful 
since  the  first  of  February,  are  Seneca  Falls,  Palmyra,  Rush- 
ville,  Canandaigua,  and  Geneva.  In  Canandaigua,  the  number 
who  are  cherishing  a  recent  hope  is  between  sixty  and  eighty. 
In  Geneva,  the  work  is  too  recent  in  its  origin  to  admit  of  an 
accurate  estimate  at  the  present  time. 

Geneva,  March  28th,  1832. 


